Handheld Linux and the HP/Compaq iPaq

An overview of Linux on the iPaq, as seen previously at our September 2000 meeting

Abstract

The Linux distribution on Handhelds.org has come a long way since its launch in June of 2000 and the last talk about it at the Boston Linux and Unix September 2000 meeting.

This talk will describe the current state of Linux on handhelds, focusing on the HP iPAQ and the Familiar Linux distribution from handhelds.org.

The Familiar distribution now includes both a GTK-based PIM (GPE) and a Qt based PIM suite (OPIE) but also can run many other standard Linux applications, drawing on the Debian ARM distribution.

In addition to the high level overview, this talk will cover some of the interesting aspects of handheld computer architecture that differentiate it from PDA's and desktop, server and embedded computing.